When I see what happened this week in the United States Senate, I despair of democracy. It almost makes you wonder if this great experiment in self rule might not work. I know that through these windbags we call senators we are eventually going to get to the will of the people, but it is a slow, ugly and infuriating process.
This week instead of passing any meaningful legislation about Iraq -- whether it's to stay or to go, whether it's to change strategy or to stay the course -- our senators did absolutely nothing. To be fair to the Democrats, who I am usually so hard on, they had moments where they tried to do the right thing, like the Webb amendment that would have given our troops the rest they have earned. But the Republicans wouldn't have it. They filibustered every single bill, except one.
So, what was that one magical bill that captured their imagination and caused them to finally spring into action? It was a vote to condemn an ad! A newspaper ad! It makes you despair of democracy. What a terrible waste of time, and more importantly, what an insult to our troops and the American people that they would waste their energy on this kind of trashy political theater instead of finding a way to bring a decent and humane resolution to the Iraq War.
And, as always, the media went right along. Is there any right-wing talking point that the media will not trumpet as if it is the most important thing in the world? What a bunch of hopeless suckers. But that fight is for another day (if you want to see what I thought of the ad itself and the media coverage of the ad, watch this). The video below shows you how I feel about this useless, senseless Senate vote on the Moveon ad. If you think my writing sounds angry, wait till you get a load of how I really feel:
Watch More Young Turks Here
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
The Senate Votes on Newspaper Ads While Our Troops Get Killed
Posted Sep 21st 2007 11:58AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Iraq, U.S. Senate, Young Turks, Video
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- not-pboyfloyd on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- mac on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Roert Dean on General Clark is Absolutely Right!
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Ryan Anderson on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Senate Votes at 1 AM to Move Health Bill to Final Approval
- Axelrod Says Health Reform Supporters Are on the 'One Yard Line'
- The Risk of Being the 'Deadline President'
- Latest Round-Up Of Obama Poll Ratings by State
- Obama's Copenhagen Climate Deal: Real or Not?
- The New Senate Health Bill Explainer: Changes You Should Know About
- Health Endgame: Time To Embrace Half a Loaf (And Learn to Love It!)
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 6)
46. And Nero fiddled while Rome burned... Our Congress wastes so much time doing stuff like this instead of doing something that really matters! Just like the ad in the USA Today this morning about Jesus, (whom I love) what are they going to do - pass a resolution that you can't say anything bad about our Lord? I am against wasting time on such nonsense. People should be able to tell by the way I live my life that I am a Christian, I don't have to sign some Miracle statement.
Sarah at 6:36PM on Sep 21st 2007
47. #37 Jeanne, Yeah I remember those good 'ole days of the Clinton 'false' economy..LMAO I never lost more money in my life than when the Nasdaq bubble, that grew on Clintoon's watch, finally burst. But that's what you get with a "paper tiger" in office watching the bad guys, and more concerned with what was going on under his desk, than on top of it.
lizard944 at 6:45PM on Sep 21st 2007
48. Obviously all you libs with your "time out" parents dont believe when you say something so incredibly wrong about someone, you need to apologize, and yes sometimes you may need to gravel to get your "just wrong" way of expressing yourself back in line, moveon.org and Ms. Rotten Clinton were out of line! After all the polls prove it...and I know you're poll driven.
ken at 6:50PM on Sep 21st 2007
49. How could it ever be a waste of time for Congress to show support for the U.S. Military and it's commanders?!
The left keeps crying that it doesn't want another Vietnam. But they forget that public oppion sank. Public support dwendled. Then the congress and others tried to hang on to it, but just barely. In other words, they stayed but made deep cuts over and over financially to appease their constituients.
A fight is all or nothing. While you are in it, you have to give your all, your best. Financially, physically, mentally.
Oorah! for congress! And thank you esteemed Senator from Texas!
Barbara at 7:05PM on Sep 21st 2007
50. Perhaps the Democrats are really wussies, but they sure have been hamstrung by not having a REAL MAJORITY in either Congress or the Senate.
This should teach the Democrats to GET OUT THERE AND VOTE, come the next election.
Want to see the war end? Give the Democrats a clear majority in BOTH HOUSES. If that doesn't do it, then I give up on BOTH parties, and God help America!
(And I urge this as an INDEPENDENT.)
Mary3 at 7:00PM on Sep 21st 2007
51. i think move ondotorg is out conscious...they were right he is gen. beray us he's another bushnic...lying just like this administration i think bush and all his cronies should be impeached for war crimes..you all make me sick siding with congress and this general
queenie at 7:04PM on Sep 21st 2007
52.
I find it almost laughable how so many of you unquestionable loyalty swearing republicans are voicing your outrage over the freedom of press and speech to question the validity of a "decorated veteran" when it was now only 20 years ago a certain "decorated vietnam veteran" was disgraced in the public eye and before the senate by admitting to subverting a Treaty and International Laws to sell weapons to THE VERY COUNTRY that neo-cons are saber-rattling at now (and are outraged at its iranian president visiting one our Universities) so he could support a group of rebels that could be considered terrorists and a Panamanian dictator.
The american people have the RIGHT TO QUESTION THE MERIT & ETHICS OF EVERYONE WITHIN PUBLIC OFFICE INCLUDING THOSE WHO ENFORCE IT, less we forget the lessons of 20 years passed. And to think that clown is a correspondent for Faux News...
ExFactor at 7:33PM on Sep 21st 2007
53. if the senators had done something about the swiftboat ads the asshold Bush wouldnt be in office and our troops wouldnt be getting killed
terry at 8:05PM on Sep 21st 2007
54. Thank You for speaking out about the absurdity of what is happening in Congress.
ck at 8:35PM on Sep 21st 2007
55. #53 The "swiftboat" ads were fair game because they were aimed at a presidential candidate, who was puffing aka; lying, about his less than impressive four month photo-op to Vietnam. Yeah, I dream of the life this country could've had if Bush didn't get into office..LOL ! More terrorist attacks on Americans here and abroad, paying $15.00/gal for gasoline because Saddam invaded all of the surrounding nations and captured their oil fields, record high taxes to pay for all of the bogus social programs that encourage people to not find emoployment, etc., etc. Woo Hoo! Maybe we'll get another opportunity for all of these "perks" with Hillbillary Clinton?
lizard944 at 9:21PM on Sep 21st 2007
56. I read on some military blogs that Petreus has actually carried Betrayus as a Nickname as long ago as 2003.
Heidi at 10:53PM on Sep 21st 2007
57. Political speech should be the most protected speech, when discussing the bill of rights and freedom of speech. How do people get things so wrong? When the nation starts condemning political speech on one side or the other then that is when we no longer have a democracy but a dictatorship. Censorship of dissent and discussion about the government and the military was what the Nazi party practiced in the 1930's and 40's.
Heidi at 11:43PM on Sep 21st 2007
58. Did something happen today that's never happened since Bush's first term? Yaawn, nope. Oh, except one thing,...MoveOn.org is growing day by day. Coming to pwoteckt the widdle jenawal - awww. Widdle bitty general (how many is this now?) feewings got hurwt. Needs Senate to stick-up for him. Even wuffy tuffy's get hurwt and cwy. Poer, poer general dujour - wait until he has an original thought of his own! He go bye-bye just like others. And the pubes go marching on believing the spin from the Bush Wacker's Whitewash House - as if all the other generals George chose were communist dolts. New York Times full page! Pfah! Glad they haven't broken the code to the MOVEON website or they'd be really PO'd! They,...now shush,...talk about more than Petreaus and Bush's "visit" to him but a week prior. "Just a pit stop for gas on the way to suck on Australia's honor." That teet was a might sore - as it should be. But they never talked about the report to Congress! EVER! Not once. I think we can trust our President to keep things military and un-political on that front. Men and women are DIEING! He wouldn't screw with that,...right? Yeah? Come on now - not the President of the Whole of the People of The United States of America!? E. Pluribus Unum!! I'm an Independent. I must believe he would NEVER cross that line. Our Leader - never, I won't believe the Comintern slander or the FASCIST goosecrapsteppers! I'll have to vote for....vote for,...ARGGGGH! OMG!! VLADIMIR PUTIN and his sagging boobies!!! Ahhhhhhhh! Phew! Glad that visual is gone. Who reads the Times anyway? Pubes do this all the way to Thanksgiving then it's a slider into the New Year - 7 years running why's anyone surprised? They don't have to worry about paying bills or retirement or health care - haircuts - transport - opening their own mail - Stay Puffed Marshmallow Do Nothing Senate - they're not the first. They've just gotten good at it. I say: PIE FIGHT IN THE SENATE CHAMBER!! Chose who's gonna be covered with the most gooey cream! UH OH! Headlines: "SENATE VOTES ON LIBEL OF SENATOR CRAIG'S REPUTATION" - MOVEON.org has done it again - this time saving a few thousand dollars on a full page ad in the Chicago Sun Times,...UPROAR and FILIBUSTER's flung like a Lemon Key Lime Pie with Merange around the Senate's plastic wrapped chamber after Dick Cheney takes one in the puss - "Smells liberal, tastes democratic, feels like,...(expletive)- F,...U!(expletive!!)"" ~ then declares War on the Left Concourse! Hillary winds up,...swings, OBAMA!!-> that guy went down HARD!,...HEY! ~ HOW'D GUILIANI GET IN HERE!!
John at 4:38AM on Sep 22nd 2007
59. Shame on the Senate. I'm afraid things will get worst before they get better.
glenn Jones at 5:57AM on Sep 22nd 2007
60. If the dumbocrats had any proof of any wrong doing by this president they would have had filed articles of impeachment long ago.They just keep beating this dead drum for their excuse for getting nothing done in congress and hoping a dumbocrat gets elected to raise everyone 's taxes for there goverment entitlements.And you they talk about a culture of corruption they should look at there own like Schumer,Feinstein and Webb.
robert kennedy at 9:19AM on Sep 22nd 2007